by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to Buried Treasure of the Streaming World! This series will take a month’s worth of content at a time and sift out the buried treasure that exists on all forms of streaming. These films most likely fly under the radar, but now it is time to shine that spotlight on them and give them the attention they truly deserve. Time to dive in!
Sublet (VOD)
Who enjoys an unexpected love story? With an endless supply of rom-coms in this world, we get an endless supply of cliché love stories. Whether they hate each other to start or one of them is already taken, we know they will end up together. But this little romance called Sublet offers up something new and fresh. Michael (John Benjamin Hickey) is a New York Times travel writer who sublets from an Israeli film student. At first, their generational gap and status gap seem to be setting up quite the clash, but there just may be a spark instead. Director Eytan Fox leans away from cheesy rom-com tropes and builds this messy connection in a genuine way. These two build a strong connection in part thanks to the great work from co-leads Hickey and Niv Nissim. Instead of caring so much about whether it can make fun of their differences, the film instead tackles these cultural and generational differences in a meaningful way. This deeply thematic and surprising love affair is a great catch over on VOD.
Sweat (MUBI)
How much time do you spend on social media watching the daily posts of influencers? This has unexpectedly become a legitimate career for many people (and they certainly make a lot more money than I do). Their lives seem so perfect and wonderful as every moment of their existence is drenched in adulation and love. Or is it? There is a dark side to this attention (even when you have a YouTube channel with 400 subscribers). This new Polish drama, Sweat, which is streaming right now on MUBI, takes a deep dive into the life of one such influencer. Director Magnus von Horn delivers a perfect intro that is full of worship and love… but it certainly does not stay that way for long. The film is anchored by a powerhouse performance from Magdalena Kolesnik and takes a deep dive into the many layers and facets of this lifestyle. This drama is shockingly dark and challenges its audiences to see the darker aspects of the lives they wish they had. Artful and emotionally resonant, this film is a must-see journey.
How It Ends (VOD)
What would you do if you knew that the Earth would be destroyed by the end of the day? How would you spend your last few hours? What would be the things that you would reflect upon? Let’s think outside the box a little bit more. What if you could spend that day with your young self? All these questions and more are tackled by the new quirky comedy from writer-director-star Zoe Lister-Jones. She and writing partner Daryl Wein tackle so many different ideas and plot threads in this 82-minute flick. This could be a bit random and unfocused, but there are plenty of thoughts and ideas to chew on that engages the audience. The central relationship and heart of the film is Lister-Jones and her interactions with the manifestation of her younger self portrayed pleasantly by Cailee Spaeney. But they are certainly not alone! This film is STACKED with a who’s who of talented comedic actors of today. Quick and enjoyable, this existential comedy is worth your time.
The Man Who Sold His Skin (VOD)
Who loves when a film can take you on a journey that is wholly unexpected? You can start in one distinct place and be transported to a completely different one that challenges you in a whole new way. One film in my recent memory that fully embodies this idea is The Man Who Sold His Skin. What starts as a tragic love story turns into a human rights tale with a global perspective. Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni) is a Syrian man who must go on the run from his own country due to his love for a taken woman, Abeer (Dea Liane). As a refugee in Lebanon, Jeffrey Godefroi (Koen De Bouw) uses his tattoo talents to create Sam Ali into a human work of art. Anchored by this distant love that motivates his actions, Sam Ali becomes a symbol for human rights issues across the world. At what point can a human lose their rights and become property? At what point does a human being become so important as an influential artwork that their humanity fades away? This might not be a question you have ever considered, but this film will challenge you to see these issues in a new light. The Man Who Sold His Skin is bold and ambitious in so many ways and it will leave you reeling when those credits roll.
Nina Wu (VOD)
Have you ever thought about wanting to be an actor? Every time I watch a film and really connect to a performance, I imagine how exciting it could be to bring a character to life. But what does it really take to make this life a reality? This question is posed in a raw and unrelenting way in this new Taiwanese drama, Nina Wu. Director Midi Z paints a bold and artistic experience that is unabashedly committed to painting a realistic portrait of the struggle of women in the film industry. Ke-Xi Wu delivers a committed and raw performance that channels every ounce of determination and pain that Nina needs through her struggles. Nina Wu is a tale of two parts. The first dives deep into a film production where Nina must put up with sexism and abuse around every corner. Midi can engross the audience in long takes and unflinching tension to great dramatic effect. Then we have the second half… what does Nina have to do to build this new life of fame? This deeply personal journey is abstract and engrossing as Nina and the audience are challenged to the reality of this twisted world. This is an experience that needs to be taken, so do yourself a favor and meet Nina Wu.